Nissan design chief Shiro Nakamura meets Jay Leno, talks about new 240Z

Nissan Design's Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura met talk-show host Jay Leno in the latest of the ‘Jay Leno's Garage' YouTube series, chatting candidly about the possibility of a new 240Z within the next two years.

Next year will be the 80th anniversary of Nissan and the new model would be a celebration of the occasion, taking the spirit of the 240Z while refreshing the original design and shape into what Nakamura hopes will be an exciting new product.

Speaking at the Nissan Technical Center in Japan, Nakamura said: "I don't regulate everything, I don't come too often. I give [the designers] more time to think about it.

"They are doing sketches without any restrictions. Just pure imagination. Then after this stage we have to ask them to create on the package, which means the safety regulations and the size of the engine," he added.

The original 240Z – badged as the ‘Fairlady' in Japan – was first introduced in late 1969 as the first generation of Z sporty 2 seater and 2+2 coupes produced by Nissan, and was designed to be a practical and affordable sportscar.

Check out the rest of the ‘Jay Leno's Garage' series on the official YouTube channel.

By Rufus Thompson